Nokia in particular was singled out for praise, with the report stating that it was "the undisputed leader of converged mobile devices worldwide".

Kevin Restivo, senior research analyst with IDC’s Mobile Phone Tracker, said: "More advances are in store for 2010 as Symbian and Windows are expected to unveil new versions of their respective operating systems."

Mobile recycling could prove to be an attractive option for consumers considering an upgrade of their existing mobile phone to a new smartphone handset.

Nokia’s shift to bring more touchscreen-enabled smartphones has paid dividends, suugest the reports, as its 5800, N97, N97 mini and 5530 devices have driven both revenue and profits.